Skip to main content
Gifts from The Morning Star
Economy shrinks in fresh blow to Reeves budget plans
The Bank of England in the City of London

BRITAIN’S economy unexpectedly shrank in January, official data revealed today in a fresh blow to Chancellor Rachel Reeves ahead of her Spring Statement.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported a 0.1 per cent in GDP in the first month of the year, the latest available data, which it said was driven by a sharp decline in manufacturing.

Economists had predicted slight growth and the drop follows a 0.4 per cent increase in December.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
Richard Burgon speaks at the Morning Star fringe meeting, September 30, 2025
Labour Party Conference 2025 / 30 September 2025
30 September 2025
Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy (left) and  Friends of the Earth chief executive Asad Rehman, Liverpool, September 29, 2025
Labour Party Conference 2025 / 30 September 2025
30 September 2025

CEREN SAGIR reports from the CND fringe meeting during the Labour conference, where speakers slammed a system where £99 billion nuclear arsenal replacement costs are ring-fenced while the two-child benefit cap remains

Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, September 27, 2025
Labour Party Conference 2025 / 29 September 2025
29 September 2025
Rail unions pressure Labour to turn pledges on public ownership into action. Photo: Neil Terry Photography
Labour Conference 2025 / 28 September 2025
28 September 2025
Similar stories
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves speaking to a staf
Britain / 13 February 2025
13 February 2025
The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves at Darwen Mark
Britain / 13 December 2024
13 December 2024
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves taking applause a
Britain / 11 October 2024
11 October 2024